Poinsettia plant named ‘Fisolymp’

ABSTRACT

The new Poinsettia ‘Fisolymp’ is described as having uniform, deep red bract color; medium sized inflorescence, ovate bracts and relatively many cyathia; uniform dark-green foliage, ovate leaves almost without lobes; medium sized, rounded plant habit; and early to medium flowering response.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Euphorbiapulcherrima.

Variety denomination: Fisolymp.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofpoinsettia plant known by the vareity denomination ‘Fisolymp’, andbotanically known as Euphorbia pulcherrima.

‘Fisolymp’ was discovered by the inventor, Katharina Zerr, from aninduced mutation in the variety ‘Fismille’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,660).‘Fismille’ is characterized by large, bright red colored bracts,dark-green foliage almost without lobes, upright and moderately tallplant habit, and very early flowering time.

Irradiation of young plants of ‘Fismille’ was conducted in Ahrensburg,Germany, in May 1998. The treated plants were grown out in Hillscheid,Germany, and were propagated by cuttings. The flowering plants derivedthereof were screened for positive mutations by Katharina Zerr, theinventor/breeder throughout 1999.

One plant, designated no. 373-1, was chos n b cause of its darker redbract color. Three months later the plant was multiplied by vegetativecuttings and the resulting plants were examined in the fall of 2000, andagain in the fall of 2001. They proved to be uniform and stable.

Horticultural examination of the plants starting in 2001 and continuingthereafter has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics asherein disclosed for ‘Fisolymp’ are firmly fixed and retained throughsuccessive generations of asexual reproduction.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of ‘Fisolymp’, which in combination distinguishthis Poinsettia as a new and distinct cultivar:

1. Uniform, deep red bract color;

2. Medium sized inflorescence, ovate bracts and relatively many cyathia;

3. Uniform dark-green foliage, ovate leaves almost without lobes;

4. Medium sized, rounded plant habit; and

5. Early to medium flowering response.

‘Fisolymp’ has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day-length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Hillscheid, Germany, under greenhouse conditions whichapproximate those generally used in commercial practice.

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the inventor, the most similarin comparison to ‘Fisolymp’ is the parental cultivar ‘Fismille’. Incomparison to ‘Fismille’, ‘Fisolymp’ has smaller inflorescences withshorter bracts of somewhat deeper red bract color. Furthermore, planthabit is somewhat more rounded, slightly shorter and wider, lessupright, and flowering response is not quite as early. The primaryadvantage of ‘Fisolymp’ is that it can be grown under the same cultureregime as many other varieties, while the variety ‘Fismille’ is flowersearlier and may require extra treatment with growth regulator in orderto avoid very large, overhanging bracts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying color photographic drawing shows typical inflorescenceand foliage of ‘Fisolymp’, with colors being as true as possible withillustrations of this type. The photograph shows a mature potted plant.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The plants described were grown in a greenhouse in Hillscheid, Germany,in the fall of 2002. Rooted cuttings were planted into 14 cm pots onJul. 25, 2002 and were pinched on August 8, leaving 7-8 leaves.Initially, the temperature was between a minimum of 19° C. and 24.5° C.maximum (ventilation temperature), and lower beginning October 1,minimum 16° C. to 23° C. The plants initiated flowers und r short-dayconditions under natural short-day conditions in fall, no black clothwas applied.

Observations and measurements were mainly taken in mid December, whenthe plants were in full flower and about 20 weeks old. In the followingdescription color references are made to The Royal Horticultural SocietyColour Chart (R.H.S.). The color values were determined indoors in anorth light.

Plant:

Form.—Shrub, self-branching.

Growth habit.—About medium sized, pinched plants are bushy and round inshape.

Height (above soil line).—24.5 cm.

Width.—43.1 cm.

Average number of branches.—7.2.

Length of branches.—19-23 cm.

Diameter of branches.—6 mm.

Average number of inflorescence.—6.8.

Stem color.—Lower part light green, RHS 143 A to 143 B, upper parts ofstems are partly reddish infused, the resulting color is approximatelyRHS 181 B. Internode length: 15-20 mm.

Rooting.—Medium, sufficiently rooted for transplanting after about 20-24days in a greenhouse at a temperature of 22-24° C.

Blooming habit.—Begin under natural short day conditions infall:botanically (cyathia open): around December 1, commercially (bractscolored, marketable): in late November.

Flowering response time.—About 8-9 weeks.

Foliage:

Shape.—Ovate, most often with truncate base, without or with very weaklobes and acute to acuminate tip, entire margins.

Texture.—Upper surface: Smooth and flat, only weakly veined, color ofveins: Mainly light green, RHS 139 D, at the base pink, from RHS 182 Ato RHS 182 B.

Lower surface.—Flat and smooth, except for the slightly protrudingmidrib and finer side veins in a pinnate pattern, the vein color islight pink, approximately RHS 182 B, near the base.

Leaf blade size.—Length: 11.5 cm; width 7.8 cm.

Petiole.—Length: 5.5 cm on average, diameter 0.3 cm.

Quantity.—About 35-40 leaves per plant. Color: Generally dark green,uniform.

Mature foliage.—Upper surface, RHS 139 A; under surface, RHS 139 B.

New foliage.—Upper side: RHS 143 A; under side RHS 137 D.

Leaf petiole.—Upper side: Purple, RHS 53 A to 53 B; lower side: RHS 53 Cto 53 D.

Aspect.—Petioles are horizontally directed, while the leaf blades slantdownwards.

Disease/pest resistance/susceptibility: No special observations made.

Flowering description:

Whole inflorescence with surrounding bracts.—About medium sized, withthe bracts horizontally or slightly upward directed, middle withrelatively many cyathia, surrounded by bracts in a rosette-like,overlapping arrangement.

Diameter.—About 21-23 cm.

Height of inflorescence.—About 3 cm.

Number of bracts per inflorescence.—11-13 (with a size over 2 cm).

Keeping quality.—Good lasting quality will be maintained for about 4weeks, no dropping of bracts.

Bracts:

Shape.—Ovate, with rounded to acute bases, very weak lobes, andacuminate tips; bract blade is almost flat, less distinctly folded alongth midrib than ‘Fismille’.

Size of the largest fully colored bract.—10.5 cm long, 6.5 cm wide.

Texture.—Moderately rugose or rippled.

Vein color.—Upper side corresponds closely to bract color; lower sidedull pink, near RHS 51 B.

Color.—Generally deep red, uniform; upper surface RHS 46 B; lowersurface RHS 45 B, uniform.

Petiole.—18-22 mm long, color: upper side between RHS 46 A and 46 B,lower side 51 A.

Cyme.—22-26 mm in diameter, 10-15 cyathia borne in a cluster.

Cyathium.—Ovate, about 5-6 mm in diameter, medium to light greencolored, RHS 143 B, top dark red, between RHS 46 A and 46 B; totallength (with peduncle and female flower): 23 mm.

Peduncle.—Light green, RHS 143 C, partly brown, RHS 181 A, about 4-5 mmlong.

Nectar cups.—Usually one per cyathium, about 5-6 mm wide, golden yellowto orange colored, RHS 23 A to 25 A, near margin reddish infused: RHS 40A; the honey cups appear to open relatively early, quite some timebefore dehiscence of the stamens.

Reproductive organs:

Stam ns.—Appear relatively late (in mid-December), few in number, 1-5 ina clust r, filaments 3-4 mm, red RHS 46B; moderate pollen, yellow, RHS12 A.

Pistil.—Style and stigma dark red, RHS 46 A, stigma trifurcate, 6-lobed.

Ovaries.—Light to medium green, RHS 143 C, initially obovate, latertriangular, diameter 3-4 mm, 5-6 mm long, 3 ovules.

Fruit/seed set.—No seed set observed.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct Poinsettia plant named ‘Fisolymp’ asdescribed and illustrated herein.